390 Synopsis of the Birds 



union : very common throughout the winter, from Canada to 

 Florida: an accidental visitor in north-western Europe. 



334. Fuligula nigra, Nob. No mirror ; feet dusky ; bill 

 protuberant at base ; tail cuneiform. 



Male glossy black ; a la'rge red knob -*t 'he base of the bilL 



Female sooty-brown, beneath grayish-white. 



Scoter Duck, Anas nigra, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 135. 

 pi. 72. fig. 2. 



Inhabits the north of both continents, whence it migrates 

 in winter to temperate climates : very rare in the middle 

 states as well as in Italy : very common in northern Asia and 

 eastern Europe. 



335. Fuligula fusca, Nob. Mirror white ; feet red. 

 Male black, a white spot under the eye. 

 Female blackish-brown. 



Velvet Duck, Anas fusca, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 137- 

 Inhabits the north of both continents, migrating during 

 winter to temperate climates: not uncommon in the middle 

 states; rare in Italy : very common in Siberia. 



SUBGENUS III. OXYURJ. 



Rhynchaspis, Oidemia, Steph. Macreuses, Cuv. 



Bill broad at tip, nail very small. Wings very short, con- 

 cave. Tail long, cuneiform, of eighteen narrow pointed, 

 rigid, canaliculate feathers. 



Plumage remarkably thick, compact, and beneath silvery. 



336. Fuligula rubida, Nob. No mirror ; bill plane at base ; 

 nostrils small, linear ; tail-feathers canaliculatcd at tip only. 



Male reddish-brown; crown and neck above, black ; cheeks 

 and throat white. 



Female blackish, finely mixed with whitish ; crown black- 

 ish ; sides of the head and throat whitish. 



Ruddy Duck, Anas rubida, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 1S7. 

 pi. ix.fig' 5. male. p. \30. fig. 6. young male, female Wils. 



